Manitoba License Plates

The current Manitoba passenger licence plate series started in 1997 and has always been produced by Waldale except for a small run of plates in 2002-03 made by Hi-Signs in range DPA-DWC.

Gaps occurred when series jumped from FTZ 999 to FWA 001 in mid/late-2010, from FXZ 999 to FZA 001 in late-March 2011, and from GCZ 999 to GEA 001 in late-October 2011.  EVL in 2006 and GFA-GFZ in 2011-12 were also skipped while HEL was issued in 2014-15. KKK series was skipped while LLL series has proven elusive in 2024 with only very limited observations thus far.

Some plates denoted with top left blue on white class sticker for truck (T), farm truck (FT), regulated (R, starting in 2015, found on buses) and Snow Vehicle (SV, discontinued 2019).

Top right corner bison changed from blue-outline to solid black starting at GLX 101, sticker boxes dropped at HXP 101 and 3M High Definition (HD) sheeting started at HZY 201.

All data courtesy Andrew Osborne.

"Bienvenue" bottom center. Series began in February 2013 at JBA 101.

The Manitoba Collector Vehicle Program (CVP) was launched in early-2014. Cars and light trucks must be at least 25 years old, not used for regular commuting, maintained to value of at least $5000 and be certified by a Manitoba Antique Auto Club (MAAC) member.

Applicants were initially permitted to select their licence plate number (up to CL05000) and a popular choice was vehicle model year (such as CL01936 and CL01949) or other meaningful (to the owner) numbers like CL03270, CL04420 and CL04965. This option disappeared in the first 2-3 months of the program and plates are now issued in traditional sequence, see History tab for details. Collector plates are now available from many Autopac brokers and not centrally issued as was the case in the first few years of the CVP. Collector plates may be personalized for the regular fee.

Manitoba Collector Motorcycle licence plates were introduced in 2014 for bikes with a valid safety certificate, older than 25 years, insured for pleasure use and maintained to a value of at least $4000.

Initial plate production included sticker box outlines and small province name but later productions dropped the boxes, enlarged the province name, shifted the numbers downwards and featured HD sheeting. Collector MC plates all measure 4 × 7" and can be personalized with a maximum of 5 characters.

Initially plates were centrally issued (starting at CL001) but they are now mainly distributed via the broker network, with confirmed high 2023 stock reaching CM849. An average of just 29 Collector Motorcycles were registered annually in the first few years of the program.

The Manitoba Commercial Truck (CT) plate has been issued in pairs starting at CAA series in 1997. Most of these plates were made by Waldale except for the CDA and CDB series plates made by Hi-Signs in the early-2000s. A small number of Commercial plates have been observed with blue on white T (truck), rare DA (Driveaway/transporter) or relatively common Limited Use (LU) class stickers. Blue outline bison changed to solid black in 2013 at CFP/CFR changeover point.

Certain commercial trucks have been eligible for X, CAVR or Apportioned plates for decades. All Manitoba Apportioned trucks now receive CT plates by default after the PSV category was abolished by legislation in March 2019. Old PSV plates continued to be issued for a short time until most stocks were exhausted by 2020-21. Careful field observation, analysis and study of these high-mileage truck and bus plates was performed in the early-2020s. The blue on clear "Apportioned" sticker affixed to the front plate quickly disintegrates and has a failure rate of over 97%. The orange peel textured HD sheeting plates that started in the CJC series are themselves also subject to severe peeling and bug damage, especially when used on Apportioned vehicles.

The Manitoba Commercial Trailer plate is made by Waldale, measures 6 x 12" and features the small letters "TL" embossed below the serials. From 1997-2008, the series was CAL-CZL (first letter always C, third letter always L) and included a small batch of Hi-Signs plates made only in the CPL, CRL and CSL series. The next series was CLA-CLZ (second letter always L) and continued the original blue "outline" bison that lasted until 2015 when the end of the CLP series was reached. Solid black bison started at CLR 001 and the next series was CMA-CMZ lasting from 2018-2023.

Solid black bison started at D60701.

Manitoba Livery licence plates since 1997 were made by Waldale and featured sticker boxes and blue outline bison. All plates were issued in pairs starting in the XAA series and were registered with one of four blue on white class stickers for Winnipeg taxicab (LV, most common), rural taxicab (CL), limousine (LM) and seasonal Christmas taxi (TX, rare). A regulatory change implemented in March 2018 resulted in all livery plates being replaced with regular passenger plates; no further X plates issued and all off the road since.

Manitoba motorcycle licence plates were updated to a smaller 4" × 7" size starting with 5EB01 in April 2013. Sticker box outlines were dropped starting in the FN series appearing in 2019. Numbers/letters re-aligned to center of plate, province name enlarged and reflective sheeting changed to HD type starting at FT series appearing in 2020. Data courtesy Andrew Osborne.

Manitoba introduced a French option for passenger, personalized, amateur radio and motorcycle in 2013. Motorcycle plates started at 1JB01 but are virtually never seen except for the occasional personalized version. Data courtesy Andrew Osborne. Thanks also to Manny Jacob for the tip!

Manitoba motorcycle licence plates measured 5" × 8" starting in the 1950s and into the current series of plates until they were resized to 4" × 7" in 2013.

Current numbering format started at 1AA01 in 1997 and included a slight sheeting colour darkening starting in the mid-CW series in 2009. Issuance reached the early-DT series in 2015 by which point demand for these larger plates stalled. Most issuers provide the preferred smaller plates by default but some still had large plate old stock in 2024.

While the regular MC plate first appeared in smaller size in 2013, it took several more years for these 4 x 7" D plates to finally appear in 2019.

Manitoba trailer and motorcycle dealers share a floater plate series which started at D2501 in 1997 and features "DLR" embossed bottom center. A small number of errors were issued with incorrect "MC" caption around 2007. Stocks of these larger D plates started running out in 2019 when the smaller 4x7" size first appeared for the D series. Update: large trailer "DLR" plate D7481 with HD sheeting, narrow bolt holes and black bison spotted 7-23-24.

Per Andy Osborne, 0888B was very likely pulled ahead out of sequence as a favour to someone wanting a cool number.

Small 5 x 8" size painted black on yellow Off Road Vehicle (ORV) plates were introduced for all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other off road machines in 1988. Reflectorized plates appeared in 2008 starting with the 1X9 - 999X9 series which then moved to numbering format 9A999 in 2010. Snowmobiles which use the extensive "Snoman" trail system attached a small sticker to their plate until they were moved to the new orange Snoman plate in December 2015. Issuance of yellow plates for remaining ORV vehicle types (including a separate series for ORV dealers) continues with numerous changes in dies, sheeting, stickers and sticker boxes and numbering. Artwork here displays features of the latest version. Data courtesy Andrew Osborne.

Manitoba ORV dealer licence plates replaced Snowmobile dealer (SD prefix) plates in 1988. ORV dealer plates were produced with various dies, SD, OR and DL prefixes and the D suffix since 2009. Snowmobile Dealers (Snoman) left this category and returned to their own dedicated series again in 2015. ORV and snowmobile dealers not using Snoman trails continue to use this yellow plate. These plates are rarely seen by the casual observer. Thanks to Andrew Osborne for the data and Manny Jacob for the tip!

Manitoba Public Service Vehicle (PSV) plates originated in the 1950s but were discontinued in 2019. Dwindling numbers of PSV plates can still be spotted in 2024 but are being replaced with commercial plates when they expire or need replacement.

Until this series was eliminated, some vehicles registered in IRP used these plates fitted with a blue on clear "Apportioned" sticker bottom center. Driveaway (DA), PSV Bus (PB) and Limited Use (LU) plates were denoted with respective blue on white class sticker top left corner.

PCK series skipped and solid black bison started at PCR 001.

The final Manitoba PSV trailer licence plate series started at PAL 001 in 1997 and featured small "TL" embossed below the serials on a full-sized plate. There were just 73 average annual registrations from 2002-18, so these plates moved very slowly and were rarely seen until finally being discontinued in 2019.

This white Manitoba Semi-Trailer plate design was introduced in January 2003 with Hi-Signs dies in the SG, SH, SJ, SK and SL series starting at 10-01. Beginning in 2005, they were followed by Waldale-made plates in SM, SR, SX, SY, SZ and first few hundred in the TA series. This base remains valid.

Semi-Trailer plates in 2014 were updated to same background lake scene artwork as most other Manitoba plates but remain distinctive with unique numbering format and embossed bottom "SEMI" caption. Andrew Osborne advises actual starting point was TA-18-41, low early field observation TA-18-78 and first version of these plates produced to TC-99-99. Unused sticker boxes were finally dropped at TD-10-01 in 2017 while HD reflective sheeting started at TD-60-01 in 2018.

The orange Manitoba Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) licence plate was introduced in December 2015. These plates integrate light snowmobile registration at Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) with the annual riding season "Snopass" required to gain access to the Snoman trail system. They replaced the previous small trail pass sticker formerly issued by Snoman and applied to the yellow ORV licence plate. The orange plate must be surrendered to MPI if access to Snoman trails is no longer desired. MPI will then issue a non-Snoman yellow ORV plate if continued non-trail operation is desired.

Snoman plate numbering started with 1S001 and advanced quickly, reaching the U series with regular plate expiry stickers by the end of the first sledding season in March 2016. The U and V series, now with empty sticker boxes were issued in the years that followed. Embossed plate outline and sticker boxes were dropped and sheeting changed to HD type starting with the 9V series in 2020-21.

This two-part temporary permit was introduced in January 2021. Plate portion of the permit must be displayed on the rear outside of the vehicle while the document portion should be be taped to the inside front window. Plate portion for most vehicles measures 6.25 x 11" while smaller motorcycle size measures 4 x 7"; both types use the same artwork, fonts and number series.

Manitoba Tractor registration existed as early as the 1940s generally for non-farm use. Early plates were full-sized but were reduced to a small trailer-sized plate in 1952. Since 1971, Tractor plates have been denoted with a small "TR" caption (not to be confused with the "TL" caption found on common trailers) at bottom of plate. While always relatively scarce, they were more a bit more numerous in some earlier years. During the 21st century, an average of just 124 tractors were registered annually until the category was discontinued in 2019.

Common 5 x 8" plate found on most non-commercial/non-semi trailers starting at A001A. Most made by Waldale since 1997 with the exception of some J and K prefix plates made by Hi-Signs in the early-2000s. Sheeting artwork revised to a slightly darker colour starting at P001J in 2008 and blue outline bison updated to solid black in 2013 between V753J and V135K. Sticker boxes dropped at 101BF and HD sheeting introduced at 351BU. Data courtesy Andrew Osborne.

Manitoba Vintage Auto licence plates were first introduced with three-digits in 1967 and never displayed renewal stickers. Vehicles must be 30 years or older and can only be operated in/to/from parades, displays and repair shops with these restrictive plates. They are fully embossed and painted black on white with bison lower left. The first series of 900 plates lasted until the early-2000s by which point their original manufacturer (Western Tools) was long out of business.

Four-digit plates were produced by Waldale starting at number 1500 and started appearing around 2005. The design is very similar to the original plates and they are still non-reflective. Andrew Osborne advises these plates are issued non-sequentially and numbers are pulled out of order, so there is no true high.

Introduced in 1985 for motorcycles 30 years and older used only in parades, repair movements and approved rallies and events. Reflective undated 5 x 8" black on white plate, black on clear "VINTAGE MC" type sticker made by Western Tools. Serial range 1000-1199. Data courtesy Andrew Osborne.

Reflective, fully embossed 5 x 8" Waldale-made Manitoba Vintage MC licence plates were produced in range 1200-1499. #1499 was likely issued in the summer of 2020. The next series started at #3000. Data courtesy Andrew Osborne.

Small Vintage MC plate started at number 3000 and is still reflectorized and fully embossed. These plates are the same standard 4 x 7" size as all other motorcycle plates produced since 2013. Data courtesy Andrew Osborne.

Introduced for cars and motorcycles in March 2017.

Introduced for cars and motorcycles on February 24, 2014.

Available February 24, 2014.

Introduced for cars and motorcycles on December 9, 2013.

Introduced for cars only in summer 2012, and motorcycles in late 2013. Available to career firefighters (outside Winnipeg), paid on-call firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and First Nations firefighters. Low observation is FF0002.

Available late 2013.

Available since summer 2012 to career firefighters in Winnipeg. The plate number is keyed to the owner's badge number. Andrew Osborne advises that several very high numbers were issued out of sequence upon request (e.g., WF8761, spotted by Martin Houle in 2014). The "actual" high shown here does not take these special requests into account.

Available late 2013.

Identical to the Winnipeg Firefighter series but with numbers in the WF5000s.

Introduced in May 2013; available only for trailers. Fish Futures receives $30 from each sale.

Special passenger licence plates available only to paramedics were introduced Feb 3, 2017. Plates are only produced on demand (not sequentially) and display the member ID number except for some issued to family members. Manitoba paramedics licence plates are not available for motorcycles. Data courtesy Andrew Osborne.

White "Snowmobilers of Manitoba."pay-extra specialty licence plates were introduced on November 3, 2014. They are available to all registered passenger car motorists. The S series followed the original SW series in 2023.

Introduced for cars and motorcycles on June 8, 2015.

Available June 8, 2015.

Introduced for cars and motorcycles on June 9, 2014.

In recognition of the Winnipeg Football Club's 81st year, 8,100 pairs of these plates (number range BB0001-BB8100) were made for passenger cars and released June 12, 2011. All of these plates sold out early in the issue and are no longer available.

Introduced for cars on June 2, 2012, and motorcycles on April 19, 2013. Low: B00002.

Introduced for cars only on June 1, 2020.

Available April 19, 2013. The first 200 were manufactured as a 5 x 8" plate, then resized to 4 x 7" starting with B0200.

Introduced for cars on March 22, 2013 and motorcycles on April 19, 2013.

Available April 19, 2013.

Introduced for cars and motorcycles on April 1, 2014. Replaced by the new design in 2019.

Available April 1, 2014.

Introduced in September 2019 for cars and motorcycles. Commemorates the 125th anniversary of the Society.

Blue graphic specialty passenger car licence plates to celebrate the NHL Winnipeg Jets hockey team were introduced on December 12, 2011. All of the initial WJ-prefix plates sold out on the very first day and the second J-prefix series turned out to be very popular as well, selling out that batch of 17,000 plates in the winter months that followed. Several more runs have been produced since, including a small motorcycle version in April 2013 and regular size J22001-23000 produced in autumn 2013. These plates remain very popular in all versions.

White Winnipeg Jets licence plates were introduced in two series (JH and H) in September 2021. The 30000-30500 series emerged early in 2024 by mistake -- series quickly moved back to normal 20000-range.

White Winnipeg Jets licence plates were introduced in two series (JH and H) in September 2021.

Available September 2021.

Available April, 2013. Note some numbers from 2015-17 in the History tab seem out of order, but that's how they were issued, per Andrew Osborne.

Special passenger car licence plates to recognize Manitoba veterans and their families were introduced in November 2004. These started at VAA with the VAC series reserved for other languages while series VAG, VAI and VAJ were not produced. Veteran plates for motorcycles were released in April 2013. They are not available to everyone; only veterans qualified through the Royal Canadian Legion may obtain these plates on a special order basis.

Introduced in 2004, French-language passenger licence plates are available upon request to qualified veterans. Plates are specially made with screened ANCIEN COMBATTANT in place of the English VETERAN bottom center.

Veteran licence plates for motorcycles were introduced in April 2013. Although announced as a large size 5 × 8" plate in late 2012, the actual plates have been the updated standard 4 × 7" size since the beginning. Sticker box outlines were dropped, numbers/letters re-aligned to center of plate, province name enlarged and reflective sheeting changed to HD type in the mid-V200 series appearing in 2019.